We spent the morning of our day-trip hot spring getaway strolling around the hot spring town.
“Hey, look, Akane. Isn’t that strap cute?”
“You’re right. Oh, what about this for a souvenir for Tsumugi-chan?”
We’d peek into shops like that, laughing together, and for lunch, we ordered a set meal generously using local specialties. Even with people around, we’d feed each other without a hint of embarrassment—that part of us hasn’t changed since way back when.
“Here, Akane, say ‘ahh.’ …How is it?”
“Mmm, delicious.”
“Right?”
I couldn’t help but laugh at her proud expression.
After a while, the pleasant fatigue from walking around began to settle in our bodies. To soothe it, Shiori and I were now soaking up to our shoulders in the steamy open-air bath.
Each time the breeze rustled, the steam would waft gently, and the surface of the water would shimmer and ripple. In the distance, there was the faint sound of trees rustling.
The warmth seeping slowly from my shoulders felt so good that I instinctively narrowed my eyes and let out a deep sigh.
“Ahh… this is really nice…”
“Seriously, the best! It feels like the fatigue is melting away.”
“Hehe, I’m glad then.”
Stepping away from our busy daily lives, soaking in the bath side-by-side with Shiori like this—just that alone seemed to fill the depths of my heart. I wished this peaceful time could last forever.
When I gently shifted my gaze sideways, Shiori was slowly rolling her shoulders in the water, lightly loosening her neck. Her wet hair fell along her nape. That relaxed gesture was strangely alluring.
Even after nearly ten years as lovers, I still find myself captivated like this.
Then, as if Shiori had noticed my gaze through the steam, she lifted the corner of her lips mischievously.
“Hey, Akane.”
“Yeah, what?”
Though her tone was the same as usual, I sensed that hint of Shiori plotting something, and I unconsciously straightened my posture.
“Since we’re here, can I give you a hickey? Or rather, I want to.”
The question was so sudden that I blinked in surprise. My heart gave a little leap, and a ticklish feeling stirred deep in my chest.
“No, you can’t. I have work tomorrow.”
I meant to answer seriously, but my voice rose just a little. That was surely because I was happy at the thought of her doing it.
Shiori deliberately pouted her lips, making a childish sulky face. I love this side of her too.
“Aw, you’re so stingy, Akane… Oh, but hey.”
Her sulky expression instantly shifted to a mischievous smile.
“Somewhere that can’t be seen is okay, right?”
“Wha—huh…?”
Before I could finish speaking, Shiori gently leaned closer. With the sway of the water, our skin touched, and a slippery warmth transmitted directly.
The moment Shiori’s hand touched me, a shiver ran down my spine.
“Shiori, stop.”
Even as I said that, the distance slowly closed, and before I knew it, Shiori’s face was right in front of mine.
“Akane, your face is red. Are you looking forward to it?”
“…No, it’s because of the hot spring.”
“Really now~?”
Her soft, chuckling breath brushed against my cheek. Of course, I had no intention of running away, nor did I seriously want to refuse. It’s just that the sound of my own heartbeat was annoyingly loud.
“It’s fine, I’ll make sure it’s somewhere that can’t be seen. Though I’d really like to put it somewhere visible.”
And the next moment, her lips softly touched a spot just below my collarbone.
“Nngh… hey, Shiori…!”
A voice mixed with ticklishness, embarrassment, and surprise escaped me. But Shiori paid it no mind.
Not just kissing, she applied gentle, sucking pressure.
(Hot…)
Even though I was soaking in hot water, this was a different kind of heat. The sensation of being gradually sucked became clearer, and my pulse quickened. The thump-thump of my own heart echoed deep in my ears.
“Hey… sto… that’s enough…”
I tried to stop her by placing a hand on Shiori’s shoulder, but I couldn’t muster any strength. Far from pushing her away, it felt more like I was just confirming the touch. All the while, Shiori continued as if she couldn’t hear me at all.
When her lips finally parted, left behind was a mark far too distinct to pass off as a bug bite.
A faintly red, unmistakable trace of a hickey.
“Phew… satisfied, satisfied. With this, I can fend off any guys who try to hit on you, Akane.”
“Hey… what if someone sees this?”
I couldn’t help but mutter resentfully. I found myself desperately searching my mind for tomorrow’s outfit, just in case.
Then, Shiori smiled brightly.
“Do you have anyone else you’d show that spot to besides me?”
Her words stole my breath.
I’d never thought about it or rather, it was a question that didn’t need thinking. The only one who knows my body, all of me, so naturally like this is Shiori.
“…Of course I wouldn’t show anyone, dummy.”
At my reply, Shiori smiled contentedly and poked my cheek with her fingertip.
“Then it’s fine, right? …So, how about one more spot?”
“What do you mean ‘so’? If you’re going to do it, I’d rather just have a normal kiss.”
When I mumbled my complaint, Shiori immediately responded.
“Of course, I will.”
And with that, she closed the distance forcefully.
“—Nngh!”
Before I could even be surprised, our lips met.
At first, it was a soft, just-touching kiss. But soon, Shiori’s arm wrapped around my back, pulling me closer bit by bit.
The water rippled slightly as skin pressed against skin. Something hotter than the water’s temperature surged up from within me, and my breathing grew shallow. Our lips met a little more deeply, and my heart leaped.
The skin touching hers felt so soft it might melt, and Shiori’s heartbeat felt close enough to hold in my hands.
“…Pwah. Hey, Shiori, this is technically a public place…”
Finally, our lips parted, and I protested in a whisper while catching my breath. My cheeks were far too hot, and my gaze inevitably wavered.
But Shiori just laughed, seemingly unconcerned.
“No one’s looking, so it’s fine! I love you, Akane. Really, thank you for meeting me.”
Her unexpected words tightened my chest.
“What’s with the sudden… I love you too, Shiori.”
I wonder when I became able to return those words so naturally.
Through the steam, Shiori smiled bashfully. Just seeing that face made the depths of my chest grow warmly tight.
In the end, after that, we exchanged light, touching kisses many more times. Laughing, sometimes with serious eyes, then laughing again.
Wrapped in the hot water, we talked about the future as if it were the most natural thing. Our next date. Tsumugi-chan’s high school life. We even talked about how the three of us should go on a trip someday.
Times like this would continue forever from now on. With Shiori by my side, laughing together, loving each other, within a reachable distance.
I never doubted that happiness.
—I believed it from the bottom of my heart.